The Playdate Podcast by Ubongo

Are we raising our children based on what they need today, or on the childhood we remember having?In this episode of The Playdate, we're exploring child psychology, empathy and the challenge of seeing the world through our children's eyes. From the childhood risks we once took without a second thought to today's battles over screen time, independence and discipline, we unpack why understanding a child's perspective can change the way we parent.Our Nigerian parents share honest, funny and sometimes surprising stories about the things they did as children that would make them panic if their own kids tried them today. We then take the conversation deeper in a candid parenting roundtable, exploring generational differences, children's emotions, parental expectations, discipline, curiosity and the importance of guiding children rather than simply dismissing their point of view.In this episode, we explore:- Why childhood experiences can shape the way we parent.- How to understand your child's perspective without abandoning parental boundaries.- Screen time, independence and the generational parenting gap.- Why children need guidance, communication and age-appropriate expectations.- How empathy can help parents build stronger relationships with their children.Parenting isn't about agreeing with every decision a child makes. It's about understanding what sits behind their behaviour so we can respond with greater patience, clarity and intention.Join the conversation.Subscribe to The Playdate for more honest conversations about parenting, child development, family relationships and raising children in today's world.Visit our website: https://theplaydatebyubongo.org#ThePlaydate #Parenting #ChildDevelopment---------------------Connect with us on : Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ubongotz/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/ubon...Twitter: https://twitter.com/ubongotzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubongoimpac...

What happens to a child's learning when they leave school and go home?

In this opening episode of The Playdate, we sit down with Christina, COO of Ubongo, to talk about the space between school and home — and why what happens there matters.

We explore why learning doesn't have to stop when the school day ends, the role parents and caregivers play in creating an environment where children can learn, and how content can support learning through TV, radio, smartphones and even basic phones.

We also get into something many parents will recognise: putting a tablet on for your child and getting on with everything else you need to do.

But what if screen time could be part of a bigger, more wholesome learning experience — one that eventually gets children up, moving, playing and exploring?

This is The Playdate: honest conversations about parenting, learning, children and everything in between.

Listen in. Then join the conversation.

Are your kids constantly testing their limits—or terrified of the dark, geckos, and trying new things? 🕷️🧗🏽‍♂️🕯️

As parents, we all want to raise courageous, confident kids who know who they are. But how do we guide them from a nervous "I can't" to a confident "I'll try" without passing down our own childhood fears or relying on traditional fear-based discipline?

Welcome to Episode 5 of The Playdate! Our host Mama Olive sits down with a real-talk parent panel—Helen Liliana, Marcelo Jindal, and Helen Mathew—to explore what bravery and agency look like across different stages of childhood. From managing delayed milestones and overcoming fears of water, geckos, and the dark, to navigating sibling comparisons, these moms share the hilarious and heartwarming reality of letting kids move at their own pace.

Then, we dive deep with expert child and adolescent counseling psychologists Dr. Lynn Washoe (founder of Kids Counselling Clinic / @kidscounsellingke) and Dr. Aldo Olouch Olunya. Together, they tackle the tough topics:

• What gentle parenting actually looks like in an African context.
  

• How to give boys emotional vocabulary without making them feel ashamed.
  

• Why disagreement between a child and parent is not disrespect.
  

• How parents can handle emotional repairs when they make mistakes.
  

Hit that SUBSCRIBE button to join the ultimate pan-African parenting village! 🌍✨

📲 JOIN THE PLAYDATE WHATSAPP VILLAGE

You don’t have to parent in isolation! Join our supportive network of modern parents across Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa to exchange practical parenting hacks, vent without judgment, and access expert child development tools.

👉 Click here to join the inner circle: [Insert WhatsApp Link]

🌟 Connect With Our Host & Experts:

• Host (Mama Olive): https://www.instagram.com/mamaolivek 

• Dr. Lynn Washoe (Kids Counselling Clinic): https://www.instagram.com/kidscounsellingke/
  

• Dr. Aldo Olouch Olunya: https://www.instagram.com/abominable_froman

🌍 About Ubongo & Sponsoring the Mission:

Ubongo is Africa's leading edutainment organization, reaching millions of families with high-quality, localized learning. Because 90% of brain development happens before age 5, we focus on transforming homes into playful, supportive spaces where young minds thrive. Millions of children across the continent still lack access to localized educational resources. Help us bring fun learning to every child.

💜 Sponsor a child’s learning journey here: theplaydatebyubongo.org/changemakersclub

#ThePlaydate #MamaOlive #DrLynnWashoe #DrAldoOlunya #KidsCounsellingKE #RaisingBraveKids #GentleParentingAfrica #KenyanParenting #EmotionalIntelligence #Ubongo #PositiveParenting

00:00 — Teaser: Raising Brave Kids & Gentle Parenting

01:10 — Welcome to The Playdate with Mama Olive

03:05 — Parent Panel Intro: Meeting the Moms

04:14 — Co-Parenting Debates: Extrovert vs. Introvert Parenting Styles

05:58 — Practical Ways to Teach Children Bravery

09:17 — Overcoming Childhood Fears: Geckos, Water & Darkness

15:45 — Moving Away from Fear-Based Discipline in African Homes

21:48 — Milestone Pressure & Preterm Baby Challenges

26:00 — Parent Panel: Final Advice on Raising Free-Spirited Kids

28:03 — Expert Panel Intro: Dr. Lynn Washoe & Dr. Aldo Olouch Olunya

30:00 — What Does Bravery Really Mean for a Child?

33:20 — Why Boys Need Emotional Vocabulary (Breaking "Boys Don't Cry")

36:36 — Gentle Parenting in Kenya: Empathy vs. Strict Discipline

41:52 — Redefining Respect: Why Disagreement Isn't Disrespect

46:36 — Apologizing to Your Kids & Healing Parent Trauma

50:00 — Guiding Children Through Family Transitions & Separation

54:26 — Dr. Lynn & Dr. Aldo's Parting Words for Caregivers

We’ve all tried to be "The Incredibles." You try to smash your work goals, keep a pristine house, cook healthy meals, and remain perfectly patient while your toddler tests every boundary. But trying to be a superhero parent usually leads to one predictable destination: total, absolute burnout.

Welcome to this high-energy episode of The Playdate, filmed live at Kace In Point studios in South Africa! Our host Blaque Nubon sits down with a lively roundtable of South African parents to expose the myth of the "perfect parent." Prepare to laugh and sigh in relief as they trade hilariously raw stories about work-life collisions, survival tactics, and the moments they realized they couldn't do it all alone.

Then, we dive into a powerful conversation with legendary South African educator and digital creator, Mlungisi Nkosi. Known across the nation for transforming how youth learn, Mlungisi steps into the parenting space to break down the intense pressures modern caregivers face. He shares deep insights on how parental stress directly impacts a child's environment, why setting boundaries is a form of love, and how to protect your peace so you can show up fully for your family.

Hit that SUBSCRIBE button to join the ultimate pan-African parenting village! 🌍✨

Are you completely outnumbered by your own kids? 👶🏽👦🏽👧🏽🚨

We’ve all been there—one child is crying, another is drawing on the parlor wall, and the oldest is picking a fight over a specific colored cup. Suddenly, your peaceful home feels exactly like a rowdy market day in Lagos! Managing sibling rivalry and large family dynamics is one of the ultimate tests of parental sanity. How do you divide your attention fairly without completely running on empty?

Welcome to this high-energy episode of The Playdate, filmed live at Arrow Studios in Lagos, Nigeria! Our fabulous host Tomilola (from The Cuddle Blog) sits down with a lively roundtable of Nigerian parents to unpack the beautiful chaos of raising multiple children. Get ready to laugh out loud as they trade real stories about sibling wars, favoritism traps, and how they keep the peace when the kids take over the house.

Then, we sit down for an insightful conversation with parent coach and family dynamic expert, Damilola Adesanoye. Damilola dives deep into the psychology of birth order, how to handle sibling conflict without playing the "judge," and why fostering a positive team spirit at home is the ultimate secret to building lifelong bonds between your children.

Hit that SUBSCRIBE button to join the ultimate pan-African parenting village! 🌍✨

You don’t have to manage the chaos alone! Join our fast-growing, supportive network of modern parents across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa to trade parenting hacks, vent without judgment, and access expert tools.

👉 Click here to join the inner circle: [Insert WhatsApp Link]

Follow our amazing host and expert guest on Instagram for more incredible parenting resources, family wellness tips, and daily encouragement:

👉 Host (Tomilola): https://www.instagram.com/thecuddleblog/

👉 Guest (Damilola Adesanoye): https://www.instagram.com/_sholaide/

Ubongo is Africa's leading edutainment organization, reaching millions of families with high-quality, localized learning. Because 90% of brain development happens by age 5, we focus on transforming homes into playful, supportive spaces where young minds can thrive together. Right now, 121 million children across the continent still lack access to educational resources. Help us bring the magic to the finish line.

💜 Sponsor a child’s learning path here: [www.ubongo.org/donate]

#ThePlaydate #Tomilola #DamilolaAesanoye #SiblingRivalry #LargeFamilies #NigerianParenting #TheCuddleBlog #Ubongo #PositiveParenting #ArrowStudios

📲 JOIN THE PLAYDATE WHATSAPP VILLAGE🌟 Connect With Our Host & Guest:🌍 About Ubongo & Sponsoring the Mission:

Are you raising a safe child… or just a terrified one? 🫣

We’ve all been there. You leave your child alone for two minutes, and suddenly your parlor is a "creative disaster" zone. Our immediate cultural instinct is to step in as "Commanders"—giving strict, fear-based safety rules to keep them completely out of harm's way. But what if micromanaging their safety is actually accidentally killing their confidence?

In this episode of The Playdate, our host Mama Olive sits down with a roundtable of Kenyan parents to swap hilarious, painfully real stories about the chaotic moments their kids first demanded independence.

Then, we dive into a deep, eye-opening conversation with top counseling psychologist Dr. Carol Chakua. She breaks down the clinical science of child resilience and explains why letting your child take small risks, make messes, and even fail is the ultimate secret to building an independent, unstoppable adult.

Hit that SUBSCRIBE button to join the ultimate parenting village across Africa! 🌍✨

Parents are a child's first teachers. 
Not the perfect parents.
Not the parents with all the answers.
Just the parents who choose to be present.
At Ubongo, we believe every caregiver deserves a space to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another—because children grow best when the adults around them grow too. This aligns with Ubongo's goal of helping caregivers engage in learning through play and supporting positive parent-child relationships.
 Finish this sentence:
The best parenting advice I've ever received is...
Let's help another parent today.
#ThePlaydate #Ubongo #ParentsSupportingParents #AfricanParenting #LearningThroughPlay

Welcome to The Playdate: Real Talk for Modern African Parents

We’ve all had that moment where we looked at our kids and thought, “Am I completely ruining them?” From living room disasters to epic public meltdowns, parenting across Africa is beautiful, chaotic, and incredibly humbling. But here is the good news: you don’t have to be a perfect parent; you just have to be a supported one!

Welcome to the grand premiere of The Playdate! In this introductory episode, our regional hosts meet face-to-face for the very first time to swap their most hilarious, raw, and painfully relatable parenting fails. It turns out, whether you are in Nairobi, Johannesburg, or Lagos, the "messy middle" of raising children looks exactly the same.

Then, we go behind the scenes with Ubongo’s COO, Christina Bwana. She drops the curtain on the groundbreaking behavioral research that built Africa's most beloved shows—Ubongo Kids, Akili and Me, and Nuzo and Namia. Christina reveals the fascinating science behind how these characters shape young minds, and why YOU (the parent) are the most critical stakeholder in your child's developmental journey.

Hit that SUBSCRIBE button to join the ultimate pan-African parenting village! 🌍✨